Method of and device for coating lengths of linear elements

ABSTRACT

A device for and method of coating linear elements which provides a housing, which housing has elastomer end members. The respective end members being axially apertured, which apertures are complementary. One of the apertures preferably being serrated. The chamber formed by the housing receives a liquid corrosion inhibitor, preferably of the cationic type. Lengths of pipe, shafting, bars or the like are drawn through the close fitting apertures in the respective end members of the housing to clean the linear elements and to deposit a thin film of magnetically attractable, corrosion inhibiting cationic liquid on the surface of the pipe, shafting or the like, as it passes through the chamber. The liquid corrosion inhibitor is withdrawn from a reservoir by a pump and is directed into the chamber within the housing, and out through a conduit, a filter and back into the reservoir, so as to clean and filter the corrosion inhibiting liquid for reuse and to maintain the proper liquid level within the chamber.

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States Patent Landry, Jr.

Dec. 3, 1974 Inventor: Floyd ,1. Landry, Jr., 1207 W. Ohio St., Midland,Tex. 79701 [22] Filed: Sept. 20, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 399,054

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 212,989, Dec. 28,1971,

abandoned.

[52] US. Cl. 118/405 [51] Int. Cl. 1305c 3/02 [58] Field of Search118/405, 404, 125, 419,

118/420, DIG. l1, DIG. 18

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,943,818 l/l934 Fantone etal 118/405 X 2,894,483 7/1959 Stahl 118/125 X 3,135,620 6/1964 McGrathet al. 118/405 X 3,332,393 7/1967 Houver 118/404 3,402,696 9/1968Richards 118/405 UX 3,513,017 5/1970 Waters et al 117/94 y 44 as 'L 34 c'2 1 i 5 36 4o 42 7 W I 46 Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbaum Attorney,Agent, or FirmWay1and D. Keith S 7] ABSTRACT A device for and method ofcoating linear elements which provides a housing, which housing haselastomer end members. The respective end members being axiallyapertured, which apertures are complementary. One of the aperturespreferably being serrated. The chamber formed by the housing receives aliquid corrosion inhibitor, preferably of the cationic type. Lengths ofpipe, shafting, bars or the like are drawn through the close fittingapertures in the respective end members of the housing to clean thelinear elements and to deposit a thin film of magnetically attractable,corrosion inhibiting cationic liquid on the surface of the pipe,shafting or the like, as it passes through the chamber. The liquidcorrosion inhibitor is withdrawn from a reservoir by a pump and isdirected into the chamber within the housing, and out through a conduit,a filter and back into the reservoir, so as to clean and filter thecorrosion inhibiting liquid for reuse and to maintain the proper liquidlevel within the chamber.

PATENTEDUEB 31m 3.851.623

FIG. I "1 I 22 i 4 z 2 53 I8 28 26 2 I i l6 INVENTOR.

HIS AGENT FLOYD J. LANDRY METHOD OF AND DEVICE FOR COATING LENGTHS OFLINEAR ELEMENTS SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present device is usedprimarily for coating linear elements, such as lengths of pipe,shafting, or bars which are passed through a chamber filled with coatingmaterial. One side of the device will normally remove foreign matterbefore the linear elements pass into the chamber, which is filled withthe coating material. A coating of the material will be applied to thelengths of pipe or the like being passed through the chamber, but thegreater portion of the coating material will be stripped therefrom, toleave a coating of the desired thickness on the surface of the linearelement so as to normally protect the surface thereof against corrosionand to enhance the beauty thereof.

The present device is constructed in such manner as to have aperturedends and surrounding side wall to form a chamber, which device may be ofany desired configuration, but in the present instance it is shown to besubstantially cylindrical, and may be one unitary element or severalelements fitted together to form a chamber.

The device is so constructed as to have inlet and outlet conduitsleading thereinto and therefrom, to enable the circulation of liquidinto and out of the chamber, thereby to enable the chamber to besupplied with liquid and to maintain the liquid at the proper lever andunder the desired pressure, to provide the best operating conditions andthe best coating action on the linear elements being passedtherethrough.

The housing which forms the chamber of the present device is preferablymade of rubber or other elastomer material, or at least has the endportions thereof of elastomer material, so that, when a lineal element,such as a length of pipe or shaft or the like, or any crosssectionalconfiguration, is pulled therethrough, the aperture in each of the endmembers, which apertures are complementary in size and shape to belineal element being passed therethrough, will be provided with acoating of protective liquid. A pump is provided to direct the coatingliquid through a conduit into the chambet and out through a conduit andthrough a filter into a storage reservoir to which the suction conduitof a pump is connected, to enable the fluid to be circulated through andmaintained at a given pressure, so the fluid, such as a liquid corrosioninhibitor may be deposited on the lineal elements. The corrosioninhibitor may be of the character of a cationic material which is anelectrolysed solution which has a positively charged ion therein, whichion migrates and adheres to the cathode, the element being coated, suchas pipe, shafting or the like.

The present device is shown to be mounted so a pipe, such as a drillstem, may be pulled therethrough, as the drill stem is being removedfrom the well. The aperture in the lower end of the housing stripsforeign matter from the pipe or the like as its passes therethrough, andthe aperture. at the upper end of the housing being of such a diameteras to give a uniform coating of the protective material on the pipe.Serrations or notches are formed in the material surrounding the upperaperture, which serrations or notches exude the coating material ontothe pipe, shaft of the like being drawn through the device. In the caseof removing drill stem from a well the drill stem or drill pipe may becoated with a minimum amount of material which will inhibit rust orother corrosive action on the drill pipe.

The preferred form of the invention is shown to be of rubber or otherelastomer material, and may be in either one or two parts, but for thesake of sealing, two parts are shown to be vulcanized together, withreinforcing rings therearound to relieve the elastomer structure ofdistortion brought about by the pull of an-' chor cables thereon.

A modified form of the device isshown, which form embodies the sameprimary features as the perferred form of the device, but has a metallicring or container which forms the sides of the housing, with anelastomer element secured at each end in fluid tight relation withrespect to the metallic ring, to enable the end members to be readilyremoved and replaced when they become worn.

The chamber may be supported for the passage of the pipe, shaft, or thelike therethrough, either vertically or horizontally, and the anchorcables may be suitably anchored to hold the housing, which forms thechamber, in any desired position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various coating devices have been proposedheretofore, but these, for the most part, were directed primarily toapplying a heavy coating, such as grease to elements, and were notprimarily directed to applying a relatively minute coating of liquidmaterial, such as cationic material or other protective material topipe, shaftin'g, bars or other lineal elements being drawn therethroughfrom corrosion, or the depositing of a material to add to the beauty ofsuch elements, such as anodizing the element or covering it with arelatively thin coating of protective paint or the like, which wouldminimize deterioration of the surface of the material being coated,whether it be of metal, wood or a specially prepared molded or extrudedmaterial.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION An object of this invention is to provide amethod of coating a linear element, such as a pipe, shaft or bar with afluid, such as a liquid-corrosion inhibitor, so as to prevent corrosionor oxidation of the element.

Another object of the invention is to provide a housing to receive aliquid, which housing has longitudinally apertured end members, theapertures of which are aligned to enable a linear element to be drawntherethrough to enable. a thin coating of liquid to be deposited on thesurface thereof.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a system for coatinglinear elements, such as pipe, shafting or bars which may be passedthrough an apertured chamber, with the coating material being directedinto the chamber under pressure, out of the chamber and through a filterto return to a storage reservoir for future use.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide an elastomerhousing, which housing may be bolted together or bonded together so asto provide a selfcontained chamber to receive liquid coating materialthrough which to pass the lengths of linear elements through axiallyaligned apertures formed in the ends of said housing, thereby to provideon the linear elements a uniform surface coating.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a housing havingaxially aligned apertures formed in the respective ends thereof, theedge of which apertures may be serrated or notched to enable the coatingof the linear element with a gauged amount of liquid, such as acorrosion inhibitor.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a reversible housingto receive a coating material, which housing is supported on radiallyextending cables, the sides of which cables may be quickly reversed.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a replaceableelastomer wiper portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING With these objects in mind and otherswhich will become manifest as the description proceeds, reference is tobe had to the accompanying drawing, in which like reference charactersdesignate like parts in the several views thereof, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the invention taken from aside and from the top thereof, an exterior portion being cut away andparts being shown in section to show the interior construction; andshowing an anchor member embedded within the elastomer housing, with asupport eye fitted therein and showing a hook capable of being attachedthereto;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the apertures in an endof the housing, showing the serrations on the inner diameter of theaperture, and showing a fragmentary portion of a pipe in dot-dashoutline;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the housing to contain coating fluid,which housing is supported on cables, as beneath a drilling rig, andshowing a pump to with draw coating fluid from a reservoir to bedirected into and through the housing which forms a chamber for thecoating fluid, which fluid is returned through a filter to a reservoirto be reused; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of the invention,showing a metallic housing which receives removable and replaceablewiper elements, showing the removable, elastomer wiper elements held inplace by rings and cap screws.

DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION With more detailedreference to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates generally a housing,in the present instance an elastomer housing preferably made of twoseparable portions, which portions may be bonded together as byvulcanizing, or the housing may be formed as a unitary element.

The housing 1 comprises an upper portion and a lower portion designatedrespectively at 2 and 4, which portions 2 and 4 each have an out-tumedflange 6 and 8, respectively thereon. The flanges 6 and 8 are preferablybonded together, as indicated at 10, or they may be bolted together byutilizing the respective rings 12 and 14 to hold the flange portions 6and 8 in binding relation by bolts which pass through rings 12 and 14and flanges 6 and 8.

When the flanges 6 and 8 are bonded together, the rings 12 and 14 may bebolted on each side of the re spective flanges to bindingly engage therings with the flanges so as to reinforce the housing to preventspreading or distortion thereof when pressure is applied thereto. Theportion 2 of the housing has ribs 18 formed therein and spacedcircumferentially therearound. The housing portion 4 has ribs 20 formedcircumferentially therein, as will be seen in FIG. 1. These ribsmaintain the ends 22 and 24 of the housing in proper spaced apartrelation, and prevent material distortion thereof.

The end member 22 of the housing portion 2 has an aperture 26 formedaxially therein, with serrations 28 being formed around the innerdiameter thereof. The serrations 28 are shown enlarged in FIG. 2, butthey are usually from one thirtysecond to one sixteenth of an inch indepth, and are readily yieldable so that a length of pipe, shafting orthe like, passing through the aperture 26 will compress these serrationsand will receive therefrom a thin coating of protective material, whichmay be from one to three thousandths inch in thickness. The coatingmaterial may contain a corrosion inhibitor of the cationic type or ofthe nonionic type, depending on the characteristics of the linearelements being coated.

The housing end member 24 has an aperture 30 formed therein which actsas a cleaning or wiping element. The aperture 30 is in axial alignmentwith the aperture 26, so that pipe, shafting or other linear element 32may be drawn therethrough, and, in the present instance, if the linearelement is drawn upwardly, it is desirable to have the serrated aperture26 at the upper end of the housing 1.

When the device is used for coating pipe or drill stem as it is beingused in the drilling of a well, the device is preferably positionedbeneath the floor of the derrick and is supported thereunder by cables,as shown in FIG. 3. By the utilization of four cables 34, each of whichhas a hook 36 on the inner end thereof which hooks are connected to therespective eye blots 38, therefore, by disconnecting the positioninghooks, the housing 1 may be rotated degrees the serrations 28 will be onthe bottom of the housing. Then, if it is desired to coat the pipe as itgoes into the well it can be done, however, in normal usage, the pipe iscoated as it is withdrawn from the well to protect it against rust andcorrosion while racked in the derrick or stored in horizontal stacks.

It is preferable to have the threaded anchor members 40 vulcanized intothe housing 1 mediate the length thereof, each which member 40 may havea flange 42 thereon, which flange extends into the housing. The eyebolts 38 threadably engage the anchor members 40 to enable the hooks 36on cables 34 to be attached thereto, so, in addition to supporting thehousing 1 in guided relation, it enables opposing hooks 36 to bedisconnected and, when pipe is not passing through the housing, thehousing may be rotated through 180 degrees, the hooks 36 reconnected tothe eye bolts 38, so the coating device may be used to coat pipe,whether the pipe is coming out of the well or going into the well. It ispreferable to have screw threaded flanges 44 and 46 vulcanized or bondedto the respective housing portions 2 and 4, so the respective nipples 48and 50 may threadably engage the respective flanges 44 and 46, to enableflexible hose members 52 and 54 to be connected to the respectivenipples 48 and 50. The opposite end of hose 52 is connected to a filter56, with the hose 54 being connected to a pump 58. A conduit 60interconnects the filter 56 with a storage reservoir 62.

A conduit 64 leads from storage reservoir 62 to the suction side of pump58, so the coating fluid may be circu- Iated, filtered and reused.

The end member 22 of the housing 1 has a boss 23 formed centrallythereof, which boss surrounds aper ture 26 and strengthens the endmember against distortion. The end member 24 of the housing 1 has a boss25 thereon in which an aperture 30 is formed, which boss strengthens theend member 24.

The respective hose 52 and 54 may be secured to the respective nipples48 and 50 by means of the respective hose clamps 53 and 55.

The present device is shown to be cylindrical in form, as will best beseen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, with internal bracing ribs 18 and 20, so as toproperly support the end members 22 and 24.

It is preferable to have the hose 52 and 54 connected to the housing I,one above and one below one of the cables 34 so, upon rotation of thehousing 1, a minimum length of hose 52 and 54 is required to perform theoperation.

MODIFIED FORM OF THE INVENTION FIG. 4 discloses a fragmentary portion ofa modified form of the above described embodiment of the invention, inwhich a housing 101 is made of metal and has inwardly projecting annularribs 102 and 104 secured thereto as by welding to form shoulders, whichshoulders are circumferentially apertured with screw threaded apertures.The shoulders receive removable and replaceable elastomer end members106 and 108 respectively, which end members have complementarycircumferential apertures formed therein. The respective rings 112 and114 are fitted around the outer periphery of the respective elastomerend members 106 and 108, which rings have complemental, circumferentialapertures formed therein for the passage of the screw threaded bolts orcap screws 116 and 118 therethrough to threadably engage the respectiverings 112 and 114 so as to bindingly engage elastomer end members 106and 108 in sealing relation with the respective inwardly extendingshoulders 102 and 104.

The end member 106 has an aperture 105 formed therein, the edge of whichaperture is serrated at 107. The serrations act as wiper fingers todeposit coating material on the pipe or the like, as set forth in theabove described form of the invention.

The end member 108 is apertured at 109 to form a wiping member, toremove foreign matter from the pipe, shafting or the like that is beingcoated with protective material, in the manner set forth in the abovedescribed form of the invention. A nipple is weldably secured to thelower portion of housing 101 for connection of hose 54 thereto, as shownin the above described form of the invention. A screw threaded member1124 is welded, or otherwise secured to the housing 101 mediate nipples120 and 122 to receive a screw threaded eye 126 to enable a cable, suchas cable 34, to be attached thereto.

-In this modified form of the invention, the elastomer end members 106and 108, which surround the pipe or shafting 32, may be removed andreplaced, should they become worn, without the necessity of discardingthe body portion of the housing.

This form of the invention functions in the same manner as the abovedescribed form of the invention, and may be supported beneath thederrick floor of a drilling rig, to allow pipe to pass verticallytherethrough, as

shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, for coating pipe or drill stem as it passeseither into or out of the well, furthermore,

the device made be used in a horizontal position for 5 coating pipe,shafting, or other linear elements as such elements are fed thereintoand therethrough.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for coating a linear element, which device comprises;

a. a housing forming a chamber,

b. an elastomer member fitted in each end of said housing,

I. each said elastomer end member having an aperture formed therein,which apertures are in axial alignment,

2. a conduit connected in fluid communication with said housing neareach end thereof,

0. pump means connected in fluid communication with said conduits tocirculate a coating of liquid into and out of said housing, and

d. the linear element adapted to be passed through said apertures insaid elastomer end members to receive a coating of liquid thereon.

2. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; whereina. the edges of said apertures in said elastomer end members act aswiper elements to wipe foreign matter from the linear element to preventthe foreign matter passing into the chamber of said hous- 3. A devicefor coating a linear element as defined in claim 1;'wherein a. at leastone of said apertures in said elastomer end members has an openingformed between the edge of the aperture and the linear element so as todeposit a gauged amount of coating material on said linear element.

4. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 3; whereina. said opening between the edge of said aperture and the linear elementis a plurality of spaced apart serrations in said elastomer end member.

5. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; whereina. said elastomer end members are formed integrally with a portion ofsaid housing.

6. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; whereina. said elastomer end members are joined with said housing to fonn aunitary elastomer unit.

7. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1.; whereina. the body portion of said housing is of elastomer material,

b. the body portion of said housing is formed of two portions, eachhaving an open side,

1. an out-turned flange on each openside of body portion, and

c. means securing said flanges on said open sides together in fluidtight relation.

8. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 7', wherein65 a. said out-turned flanges as secured together as by vulcanizing. 9.A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; whereineach a. said out-turned flanges are secured together as by bolts passingtherethrough.

10. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 9; whereina. each said out-turned flanges is apertured,

1. an apertured metal ring complementally fitted on each out-turnedflange,

b. said bolts adapted to pass through said apertured rings and saidapertures in said flanges to bindingly engage said flanges in fluidtight relation.

11. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 7; whereina. said housing has circumferentially spaced braces made integral witheach open side portion, which braces extend throughout the greaterlength of the side of each open side portion.

12. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; whereina. said housing has circumferentially spaced support members securedthereto to hold said housing in supported relation for the passage of alinear element therethrough.

13. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; whereina. said housing is cylindrical,

b. an inwardly extending shoulder formed a spaced distance downward fromeach end portion of said housing,

c. said elastomer end member adapted to seat on said shoulder,

l. circumferentially spaced, screw threaded apertures formed within saidshoulder, and

2. bolt means passing through said elastomer member and said shoulder tothreadably bind said elastomer member and said shoulder in fluid tightrelation.

14. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1;'whereina. a ring having circumferentially spaced apertures formed therein isfitted within said housing to be in bearing relation with said elastomermember,

1. said bolts adapted to pass through said circumferentially spacedapertures to threadably engage screw threaded apertures in saidshoulders.

1. A device for coating a linear element, which device comprises; a. ahousing forming a chamber, b. an elastomer member fitted in each end ofsaid housing,
 1. each said elastomer end member having an apertureformed therein, which apertures are in axial alignment,
 2. a conduitconnected in fluid communication with said housing near each endthereof, c. pump means connected in fluid communication with saidconduits to circulate a coating of liquid into and out of said housing,and d. the linear element adapted to be passed through said apertures insaid elastomer end members to receive a coating of liquid thereon.
 2. Adevice for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; wherein a.the edges of said apertures in said elastomer end members act as wiperelements to wipe foreign matter from the linear element to prevent theforeign matter passing into the chamber of said housing.
 2. a conduitconnected in fluid communication with said housing near each endthereof, c. pump means connected in fluid communication with saidconduits to circulate a coating of liquid into and out of said housing,and d. the linear element adapted to be passed through said apertures insaid elastomer end members to receive a coating of liquid thereon. 2.bolt means passing through said elastomer member and said shoulder tothreadably bind said elastomer member and said shoulder in fluid tightrelation.
 3. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim1; wherein a. at least one of said apertures in said elastomer endmembers has an opening formed between the edge of the aperture and thelinear element so as to deposit a gauged amount of coating material onsaid linear element.
 4. A device for coating a linear element as definedin claim 3; wherein a. said opening between the edge of said apertureand the linear element is a plurality of spaced apart serrations in saidelastomer end member.
 5. A device for coating a linear element asdefined in claim 1; wherein a. said elastomer end members are formedinteGrally with a portion of said housing.
 6. A device for coating alinear element as defined in claim 1; wherein a. said elastomer endmembers are joined with said housing to form a unitary elastomer unit.7. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim 1; whereina. the body portion of said housing is of elastomer material, b. thebody portion of said housing is formed of two portions, each having anopen side,
 8. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim7; wherein a. said out-turned flanges as secured together as byvulcanizing.
 9. A device for coating a linear element as defined inclaim 1; wherein a. said out-turned flanges are secured together as bybolts passing therethrough.
 10. A device for coating a linear element asdefined in claim 9; wherein a. each said out-turned flanges isapertured,
 11. A device for coating a linear element as defined in claim7; wherein a. said housing has circumferentially spaced braces madeintegral with each open side portion, which braces extend throughout thegreater length of the side of each open side portion.
 12. A device forcoating a linear element as defined in claim 1; wherein a. said housinghas circumferentially spaced support members secured thereto to holdsaid housing in supported relation for the passage of a linear elementtherethrough.
 13. A device for coating a linear element as defined inclaim 1; wherein a. said housing is cylindrical, b. an inwardlyextending shoulder formed a spaced distance downward from each endportion of said housing, c. said elastomer end member adapted to seat onsaid shoulder,
 14. A device for coating a linear element as defined inclaim 1; wherein a. a ring having circumferentially spaced aperturesformed therein is fitted within said housing to be in bearing relationwith said elastomer member,